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UNITED STATES OF AMEEICA. 



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AN 



INFALLIBLE GUIDE 



TO DISCOVER 



THE AGE OF HOBSES. 



BY 

LOUIS BRA.NDT, 

VETERINARY SURGEON. 



Right of Translation reserved. 



WITH FORTY-SIX WOOD ENGRAVINGS, 

BY G. KAEHRLE. 



Price $1. 



INDIANOLA, TEXAS. 



2/^ 






S F8if 
3^3 



Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1860, by Loms 
Brandt, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United 
States for the Southern District of New- York. 



PREFACE 



There are few persons^ even among the veterinary 
surgeons, who are able to determine the exact age of 
a horse, after it has attained its eighth year, how 
much less then can it be expected that those should 
do so, who have neither anatomical nor physiologi- 
cal knowledge of that animal. 

Horse-dealers are frequently accused of deceiving- 
purchasers in the age of horses ; now every horse- 
dealer must be desirous of retaining and increasing 
his good reputation, and would therefore not deceive 
others in this respect unless he were himself deceived. 

The purpose of this book is, entirely to set aside 
this deception and to enable all, both sellers and 
buyers (even those who never before knew anything 
about the age of a horse) by a careful perusal of its 
contents, to discover for themselves with unerring- 
accuracy the age of any horse. 

This book is published in convenient form, so that 
it may be c-arried in the pocket, as it would be dif- 
ficult for a person, who was going to purchase a horse, 
and who had perhaps never before taken any interest 



IV 

in horses, to remember all the rules given in this book 
after one perusal. 

The author who has theoretically and practically 
studied as veterinary surgeon, has had opportunities 
of examining thousands of stud-horses of various 
ages thus thoroughly convincing himself of the 
reliability of the rules he has laid down for the dis- 
covery of the age of a horse. 

The value of that most beautiful and useful animal, 
differs much at different ages, and as its age is so 
frequently mistaken, it is necessary that the public 
should possess a sure guide by which its may be as- 
certained. 

This is the purpose of 

The Author. 
September 1860. 



iittr0kttioit. 



The age of horses can only be ascertained with any 
degree of exactness, by the teeth ; particularly by the 
incisors. 

The only reliable and positive proof of the age of 
horses being the successive changes which take place 
during a succession of years, it becomes absolutely' 
necessary that one should make oneself thoroughly 
acquainted with these changes, viz : form, attrition, 
etc., etc. 

The following description and drawings will enable 
every individual without exception, to ascertain easily 
and accurately the age of a horse. 

A foal is born without incisors, but has 12 back 
teeth, 3 pair in each jaw, which have at least forced 
their points through the gums. In the course of 14 
days after birth 4 nippers appear, in 6 weeks the 
middle teeth, and in the course of 8 months the 4 cor- 
ner teeth ; so that in 9 months it has 24 teeth in the 
upper and lower jaws. These are called foal-teeth, 
and are all changed by their 5th or 6th year ; those 
succeeding them are called horse-teeth. 

The back teeth appear in the following order : the 
4 front pair, as before stated, appear at birth and are 
afterwards changed. The 4th double pair (the first 
which remain stationary) a^^pear after the 9th month, 
and are sure to be found in every foal of a year old. 
The 5th four appear in the second, sometimes not un- 
til the third year, and the 5th usually in the fourth, 
frequently not until the fifth year. All these three 
5 



6 

pairs of back double teeth remain unchanged, as do 
also the four hook-teeth which as to the time of their ap- 
pearance are the most uncertain of all. They appear 
sometimes at the end of the third year, sometimes in 
the middle or at the end of the fourth, often in the 
middle and less frequently at the end of the fifth, but 
sometimes not until the beginning of the sixth year. 
The back and hook teeth need not be very minutely 
described as they are of little use in ascertaining the 
age ; but the incisors on the contrary deserve great 
attention on this account. 




Fig. 1. 



Fig. 1 shews the right side of the milk incisors of 
the lower jaw, in their natural size and fully de- 
veloped. 

a. The nippers; 

hy The middle tooth ; 

c, The corner tooth. 

The surface is represented arched On the exterior. 
Qi) Shews the contracted body of the tooth. (0 The 
narrow arched neck, (m) The root. 



A, B, C, shew the concave side of these teeth to- 
wards the hollow of the mouth. The mark is en- 
closed within the outeredge d A f, d B f, d C f, and 
the inner somewhat lower one d e f. 

(g) Shews the hollow inside surface of the body 
of the tooth. 

The incisors of the foal differ from those of the 
horse : Istly by their regular conical formation, 2ndly 
almost in the centre of their body a narrow con- 
traction is visible, which is called the neck ; this is 
entirely wanting in the horse teeth, 3rdly at their 
full growth they are smaller than horse teeth. The 
full length of the milk teeth is about half that of 
horse teeth; this cannot however be perceived in 
live horses. The exact breadth is also not to be de- 
pended upon, because the milk teeth of large foals 
appear almost as broad as those of small horses. If 
the nippers are horse teeth they will form a great 
contrast with the middle and corner teeth, whose 
size will at once betray them as milk teeth, especial- 
ly the corner teeth, if the middle ones have changed. 
4thly the outer surface of the foal teeth are smooth 
and striped with brown ; but on horse teeth the same 
surface is divided by a dirty yellow indentation, in- 
clining towards the centre, wiiich is sometimes double 
on the upper teeth. The last two signs of distinc- 
tion are alone sufficient to prevent any one from mis- 
taking a foal for a horse tooth. 



Of the Formation of the Incisors. 



In order to become fully acquainted with the form of 
the incisors, one must accurately examine those taken 
from the jaw bones of dead horses of various ages. On 
every incisor may be observed. 1st A grinder which 
visibly protudes with each tooth out of its cavity above 
the gum, and which commences in a funnel shaped cavity, 
and ends in a smooth even surface. 2nd A substance 
which is partly exposed, and partly hidden by the gum 
and in the cavity of the tooth. 3rd A root end with 
which each tooth sinks into its cavity. The foal as well 
as the horse-teeth suffer a slow and continual waste of 
tooth-substance, from chewing and biting with their grind- 
ers, by which means not only the form of the grinder is 
changed from year to year but the length of the teeth 
is constantly decreasing, and that frequently quite evenly 
and regularly, so that in the course of time, at a very 
advanced age they will sometimes not exceed half an 
inch in length while in youth they were 2| — 3 inches 
long. 

The breadth and length of the teeth decrease in time 
in the same proportions. 

The thickness as well as the breadth of the foal-teeth 
is constantly decreasing, from the grinder to the end of 
the root; the contrary is the case with the horse-teeth. 

The form of the foal incisors may be thus classified : 
1st The grater or grinder. 2nd Its external surface, out- 
wardly arched towards the lips. 3rd An inward surface 
arched towards the hollow of the mouth. The two last 
mentioned pass together into the root of the tooth. The 
grinder which has not been used, of every foal or horse, 
8 



has the form of an egg, and is three times as broad as it 
is thick, hollowed out in the shape of a funnel, and is 
supplied with two sharp edges, which surround the socket. 
We will call this socket "the mark." In the centre of 
this mark a kernel may be observed, which forms a tube 
commencing at the end of the root, for the reception of 
the nerves and vessels; this must not be confounded with 
the mark of the tooth, which is entirely different; the 
mark being the outer, and the cavity the inner hole, and 
which is found in every young tooth not yet worn down 
to the kernel, Avhich tooth consists merely of an enameled 
shell, filled during the life time of the animal with a 
thickish fluid, which by degrees becomes a grey matter. 
This fluid enters the lower incisors, upon an average to the 
depth of 4, and in the upper ones 8 lines, and is entirely 
seperated from the beforenamed inner socket, by means 
of an enameled funnel-shaped shell of its own. One of 
the outer edges forms at the same time the basis of the 
outer surface, and one of the interior, that of the inner 
surface. The outer edge of each tooth, always rises one 
or two lines above the inner one, so that when the newly 
formed upper and loAver incisors are first used, and grated 
together, the outer edges alone touch for a considerable 
time. The inner edges do not come into contact, until 
the outer ones are worn down to an equal height with. 
them, Avhich for the horse-teeth generally requires a whole 
year. 



10 




Fig. 2. I year. 

Represents the lower jaw of a half year old foal. By 
observing the inside, it will be percieved that, both the 
outer and inner edge of the nipper are worn, but of the 
middle teeth only the outer edge, while the corner teeth 
have not yet come into contact. 




Fig. 3. 4- year. 



Is the representation of the outer side of the jaw of a 
half year old foal. 
a, a) The Nippers; 
h, h) The Middle teeth; 
c, c) The Corner teeth. 



11 




Fig. 4. I year 
Ik a side view of the jaw of a lialf year old foal. 




Y'v^. 5. 1 year. 



Shews the lower jaw at a year old; where the edges of 
all the incisors are partly worn by friction, and the inner 
edge of the corner teeth alone remain uniniured. 



12 




Fig. 6. 2 years. 

Is the lower jaw at 2 years old, in which the edges of 
the nippers and middle teeth, and their mark are worn 
down, and the inner edge of the corner tooth is also 
brought into requisition. 

At the age of 2| years the teeth begin to change, and 
those which then appear are called permanent, or rather 
Horse-teeth. 



13 



A Description of the Horse-teetli. 




m 



jn. 



Fiar. 7. A. 



Represents the appearance of the horse-incisors in 
their respective places in the lower jaw, with their outer 
surface arched towards the distant bony blade of the socket. 

a, a) The two Nippers; 

b, b) The middle teeth ; 

c, c) The corner teeth ; 
k, k) The Hooks; 

e, d) Is the cavity in the outer partition of the mark; 



14 



0, o) Shews the furrows which distinguish the Horse- 
teeth ; 
m m) The root of the Hooks. 

or _ ^ fc 




Fig. 7. B 



Shews the incisors of the horse on the lower jaw, from 
the inside of the mouth, in their position towards the 
distant jaw bone, in which they are usually enclosed. 

a a) The nippers, on the right side of which the at- 
trition of the outer and upper edge is visible, where they 
come into contact with the edge of the left side. 

b h) The two middle teeth the right side of the outer 
edge of which is beginning to be worn, while the inner 
side is still uninjured. 

d & e) The dotted lines shew the crown of the tooth 
projecting beyond the gum. 



15 

k k) Are the hooks about to break through. 
m, m, m, 7n) Are the roots of the teeth not yet filled 
out with the bony substance. 




Shews a nipper after the probable friction caused by 
the cutting of the horse incisor. 

I, Shews it breaking through afresh at the age of 
3 years. 1 & 2 Is its breadth. 3 & 4 its thickness. 



IG 

//. Rejiresents the friction surface as it appears at the 
age of 6 years (the crown cut off \ inch) where the 
breadth (1 & 2) begins to decrease, and the thickness 
(3 & 4) takes the form of an egg. 

III. This section shews a rounder friction surface of 
12 years old, in which the breadth and thickness become 
proportionate. 

IV. A triangular friction surface of 18 years. 

V. Is a friction surface of 24 years in which the 
breadth (1 & 2) measures but half as much as the thick- 
ness (3 & 4). 




Fig. 8. B, C. 

Shews a horse-incisor, viewed from the side in which 
the root. 

c, e) Is twice as thick as the upper end; 

b and c) Shew two foal-teeth, raised out of the socket, 
and viewed from the side. 



17 

Fig. 8. D. 
[See page 15.] 

Is an Incisor split length- wise, of a full grown horse. 

d, CL, f) Is the outer raised edge. 

a, o) The funnel shaped cj'vity of the tooth. 

A') The hollow body. 

m) The still unfilled root of the tooth. 

A full grown stallion and gelding has 40 and a mare 
36 real teeth, the former have 4 hook-teeth which are 
wanting in the latter, although sometimes in place of 
the hooks small stumps simular to teeth are found. The 
so-called Wolfes-teeth which in some young horses are 
found next to the first double teeth are not included in 
this number; because they are not real teeth, they 
appear only in youth, frequently do not break through 
the gums at all, and usually disappear again, in 8 or 9 
years. 

24 of the real teeth in either sex, are seated in the 
upper part of the mouth, viz above the lips. 12 in 
each check bone, and 6 on each side. 

They are divided into 6 double pairs, counting from 
below, upwards, so that those situated next to the in- 
cisors in all the 4 rows are 1st. Their neighbors 2nd 
and so forth 3rd, 4th and 5th, and the last pair (which 
are called back teeth) are the 6th. 

12 others are seated in the lower part of the mouth, 
surrounded by the lips, 6 in the upper, and 6 in the 
lower jaw, all of which are covered by the lips, and 
stand in a row, in the form of an arch, occupying the 
entrance of the hollow of the mouth. These are called In- 
cisors. The 4 innermost (2 in each jaw) are called 
Nippers, the outer 4 in both jaws, the corner teeth and 
the 4 seated between the nippers and the corner teeth, 
are called the middle teeth. Each back tooth, and in- 
cisor in both rows of the under-jaw, comes into contact 
and rubs against the back tooth and incisor of the same 
name in each row of the upper jaw. The teeth of the 



18 

latter are however all broader and thicker than those 
of the former. 

The 4 Hooks are seated alone, over each corner tooth, 
nearer to the same on the lower, than on the upper jaw, 
but so that they never come in contact with each other, 
like the back teeth and incisors. 

The whole number of teeth does not become complete 
and perfect, until the horse has attained the age of 4^ 
or 5 years. Before t4iis time the younger it is, the fewer 
of them it has in its mouth, and those which it has do 
not all remain. 

The form of a permanent incisor may be thus described. 
The more it loses in length by friction, the more it also 
loses in width, so that the nearer the friction surface ap- 
proaches to the end of the root, the narrower and thicker 
it must appear. 

Fig. 8. A. 
[See page 15.] 

Shews most accurately and minutely, how the friction 
surface changes by friction. 

Fig. 7. A, k, k, and Fig. 7. B, k, k. 
[See page 13.] 

Shew the form of a Hook tooth. 

The form of every new hook tooth resembles a cylin- 
der, in the shape of a hook, with a conical projecting 
grinder, which is surrounded by a spoon-shaped edge, 
turned towards the hollow of the mouth, so that the cone 
cannot be seen from the outside, and the whole grinder 
has the appearance of the back side of the bowl of a 
spoon. 

The edge surrounds the half inch long cone, like a 
screen, but so that two deep furrows remain between 
the two. 

With the exception of this grinder, the rest of the 
body is uniformly round and if one is cut through, the 
surface will be found to be almost even. 



19 

As the liook teeth afford no reliable guide to the age 
of a horse, a minute description of them is needless. 

We have now shown in what manner the exact age of 
a foal can be ascertained until it reaches the age of two 

years. 

The following will ex]Dlain how the age of a horse 

(which generally speaking does not average over 30 years) 
can with certainty be ascertained. 

We will take the teeth of horses of a medium size as 
a stand-point, and from the rules laid down for these, we 
can calculate the age under other circumstances. 

Laro-e horses it is evident have larger teeth than small 
ones, but the age of both can be ascertained by the same 
rule as that laid down for those of medium size. 

As we stated before, the incisors afford the safest guide 
to the knowledge of the age of a horse. The length of 
the tooth of a horse of medium size is, 3 inches or 36 
lines. After the newly changed tooth has arrived at its 
proper length, it shoots up a line regularly every year, 
and if the teeth stand rightly, the grinder wears off a 
line every year. 

Should the teeth (which is the case with many horses) 
stand too far forwards, they do not wear down in the 
same proportion as they shoot upwards; we therefore see 
horses with very long teeth. This is however no hinder- 
ance in ascertaining the age. We will treat of this more 
elaborately anon. 

At the age of 5 years, the corner teeth of the lower 
jaw have grown up to 5 lines above the gum, each middle 
tooth 7, and each nipper 9. 

At 8 years of age, and older, each corner tooth of the 
same horse projects only 4, the middle teeth 6, and the 
nippers 8 lines above the gums. This is very important, 
in fact necessary to be known, because, it is the only 
means, by which one can decide Avith certainty upon the 
age of a horse, whose teeth at an advanced age have be- 
come longer than they would have done by proper wear. 



20 

We will now first describe to the reader in what man- 
ner the ao-e of a horse can be ascertained by those teeth 
which Avear down just in the same proportion as they 
shoot upwards, and consequently retain their proper 
height above the gum. 




Fig. 9. 2^ years. 



The lower jaw at 2| years old, in which the two nip- 
pers will be percieved to be breaking through afresh as 
horse teeth, and the foal teeth appear as a smooth friction 
surface. 




Fig. 10. 3^ years. 
Beprcsents the lower jaw at 31 years of age. The 



21 

middle teeth are just breaking tlirouo;h, the outer edge of 
the nippers is ah-eady worn down and the corner teeth 
blunted . 




Fig. 11. 4 1 years. 

The lower jaw at 4| years old. One may percieve 
the corner teeth and hooks breaking through, the middle 
teeth worn only on the outer edge, and the nippers Avorn 
down at both edsies. 



22 




Fig. 12. 5 years. 

Is an outside and side view of the lowei jaw at 5 years 
of agre. 




Fig. i3. 5 years. 
Shews a side view of a lower jaw a1 5 years. 



23 




Fig. 14. 5 years. 

Shews a lower jaw at 5 years of age in wliicli both 
edges of the nippers are worn down, almost to the ex- 
tinction of the mark, the middle teeth only on the outer 
edge, and the corner ones after having attained the 
same height as the others, have also come into wear. 
The hooks are full grown, but are not Avorn away in the 
least. 



24 




Fig. 15. 6 years. 

At 6 years of age one percieves the nippers worn 
down even with the middle teeth, in the lower jaw, 
which teeth have still a cavity, and the inner edge of 
the corner tooth has worn down, even with the outer 
one. 



25 




At 7 years the middle teeth in the lower jaw have 
become even, both edges of the corner teeth rub, and 
have still a small cavity. The hooks have lost more of 
their edges, and their pointed ends have become more 
rounded. The hooks as we have stated before, in dis- 
covering the age of a horse, are not to be relied on, 
great care is therefore necessary in consulting them, and 
the signs they present can only be considered useful, when 
they agree with those of the other teeth ; otherwise no 
dependance at all, can be placed upon them. 



26 




Fig. 17. 8 years. 

Is a lower jaw at 8 years of age, in which the incisors 
have all become equally worn, and in the corner tooth 
merely a trace of the disappearing mark is visible. The 
edges of the hooks are worn down, almost to half their 
height. 

As we previously observed, the marks in the upper 
teeth are as deep again as those in the under ones,and 
consequently wear as long again. 



\ 



I I 



27 




Fig. 18. 9 years. . 

Represents the upper jaw at 9 years old. It will be 
percieved that the marks of the nippers have almost dis- 
appeared; the middle teeth still shew a small mark; 
the mark in the corner teeth is still deeper; the inner 
edge is also worn down, whereby, the upper jaw at 9 
years of age, can be distinguished, from the lower one 
at 6 years. 



28 




Fig. 19. 9 years. 

Shews a side view of the upper jaw at 9 years of age, 
in which the incision which is usually found in the comer 
tooth (<i) may be observed. 



29 




Fig. 20. 10 years. 
Is an upper jaw at 10 years of age, when the mark 
of the middle teeth is worn down. 



30 




Fig. 21. 11 years. 

Is the upper jaw at 11 years old, where the mark 
of the corner teeth is worn down. 



31 




Fig. 22. 12 years. 



At 12 years of age the nippers in the lower jaw are 
as thick as they are broad, they have become round. 
The middle teeth are becoming round, and the corner 
ones increase in thickness. 



32 




Fig. 23. 12 years. 

A side view of the upper jaw at 12 years of age 
sliews tlie increased size of the incision (d) in the corner 
tooth. 




Fig. 24 13 years. 



33 



Represents a lower jaw at 13 years of age, in which 
the nippers and middle teeth, have become perfectly- 
rounded. The corner teeth increase in thickness, and 
the hooks have become blunt. 




Fig. 25. I4 years. 

At 14 years of age the corner tooth of the lower jaw 
becomes round. 



34 




Fig. 26 15 years. 
At 15 years tlie nippers in tlie upper jaw are roundecl. 




Fig 27. 16 years. 



no 



At 16 years the middle teeth assume the same ap- 
pearance. 




Fig. 28, 17 years. 

At 17 years the corner teeth of the upper jaw are 
also rounded. 




Fig. 29. 18 years. 

At 18 years the nippers in the lower jaw are trian- 
gular. 



36 




Fig. 30. 19 years. 

At 19 years the middle teeth in the lower jaw are 
triangular. 




Fig. 31. 20 years. 



4. ig. oi. ii\j ycuio. 

At 19 years the corner teeth of the lower jaw assume 
e same form. 



the same 



37 




Fig. 32. 21 years. 
At 21 years the nippers of the upper jaw have be- 



come triangular. 




Fig. 33. 22 years. 
At 22 years the middle teeth of the upper jaw have 
the triangular form. 



38 




Fig. 34. 23 years. 
At 23 years the corner teeth are also triangular. 




Fig. 35. 24 years. 



At 24 years the nippers in the lower jaw have be- 
come twice as thick as broad. 



so 




^^^?^^^^' 1 
/I 

Fig. 36. 25 years. 
At 25 years the same is the case ^Tith the middle 



teeth 




Fig. 37. 26 years. 
At 25 years tlie corner teeth have become twice as 
thick as broad. 




Fig. 38. 27 years 



40 



At 27 years tlie nippers in the upper jaw are twice as 
thick as broad 




Fig. 39. 28 years. 
A± 28 years the middle teeth have the same form. 




Fig. 40. 29 years. 

At 29 years the corner teeth are also twice as thick 
as broad. 

The foregoing plainly shews, that as long as the 
teeth retain their proper length, there is no difficulty 
in discerning the exact age of a horse. 

We will now prove that the age of those horses which 
have irregular teeth, can also be ascertained with ex- 
actness. 

We have seen that the teeth shoot up a line every 



41 

year, but cannot wear down in the same Jegree, when 
they stand too far forwards in the mouth. In order to 
discover the exact age of a horse possessing such teeth, 
it is only necessary to observe the mark narrowly. 

For instance, suppose the mark shews 8 years, but 
the teeth are 4 lines too long for that age; it follows 
that the horse has lived 12 years 




Fig. 41. 20 years. 

Shews a tooth which is 12 lines too long, the mark 
shews 8 years, but as the tooth has shot up a line 
each year, and has not worn down, one must add the 
12 superfluous lines to the 8 years shewn by the mark ; 
we shall thus arrive at the real a^re of the horse;— 20 
years. 



42 




Fur. 42. 20 vo:ir55 



L^ry 



Represents the same lower jaw of 20 years, viewed 
from inside. The friction surface shews 8 years, and if 
as in. 



43 




Fig. 43. 

The superfluous length be removed, one ean see the 
iriction or 20 years. 




Fig. 44. 
teetli in the lower jaw at 20 years of a-e. 



44 




Fig. 45. 

Shews a lower jaw in which the teeth are 10 lines too 
long. 



45 




Fig. 46. 

An inside view of the same jaw shews a mark of 6 
years, the teeth being however 10 lines too long, its 
age is 16 years. 

Large horses have naturally large teeth, which pro- 
trude 1 or 2 lines more above the gums than those of 
smaller ones; this will easily be percieved in young 
horses of certain breeds. The other signs remain the 
same. Their age can therefore be ascertained Avith the 
same exactness as that of horses of medium size. 

Some breeds, the Spanish for instance, require a longer 
time to develop than the common horses. The bones 
appear to be harder, the teeth change some-what later, 
and appear to wear down more slowly; it sometimes 
happens that such horses after their 5th year, appear 1 
and sometimes 2 years younger than they really are, 
this does not however detract from their value, for these 
horses are usually very .strong, and 1 year more or less 
in their age, is of no consequence. 



46 

In countries where the soil is very rich, and horses 
grow np very voluptuously, great deceptions are some- 
times practised, with young horses. They are made 
to appear older than they really are, in order, that they 
may the sooner be brought into market. For this pur- 
pose the incisors are generally forcibly knocked out a 
year sooner than they would change of themselves. 

A foal of 2 years old, if wanted for work, is not so 
valuable as one of 3 years, and one of 3 is not worth 
so much as one of 4 years. Should deception be suspected 
however, one can soon convince oneself by a careful 
scrutiny of the remaining teeth. For instance if the nippers 
have changed and the inner edges of the corner teeth, 
as in Fig. 5 have not yet come into contact, it is evi- 
dent that the foal is but a year old. Thus the trick can 
easily be discovered. 

When the foal teeth are forcibly broken out, the new 
horse teeth soon force themselves through. 

If the reader however has once made himself thorough- 
ly acquainted with the rules we have given, he can de- 
tect any intended fraud. 

On the other hand there are cheats who strive for 
their own purposes to make the horses appear younger 
than they are, by burning in artificial marks, this is how- 
ever also easy of detection. 

Observe Fig. 10 around the mark you will perceive an 
enamel. By examining a nipper of 16 years it will be 
percieved that the enameled circle of this tooth is so 
minute, that by burning a mark as large as that in the 
nipper of a four year old, the entire enamel would be 
disturbed. Besides the 16 year old tooth is not suffici- 
ently broad to admit of such mark. ■ 

There are also crib-biters, which* by wearing out their 
front teeth, appear a few years older than they really are. 
The age of these can be ascertained however by their 
corner teeth, which are very seldom injured ; should this 



47 

be the case however, then as many lines as are wanting to 
make the teeth the natural length must be deducted; and 
the horse is as many years younger, as the teeth are lines 
too short. 

The front teeth are also frequently worn away earlier 
than usual, when horses have been fed from their youth 
upon unshelled Cornears. 

The age of mules cannot be ascertained with the same 
accuracy as that of horses. After their 8th year they 
usually appear younger than they are. Their bones are 
much harder and their length of life frequently double 
that of the horse. 

In all the works which have hitherto been published 
on this subject, the writers have only explained the vari- 
ations in the teeth, thoroughly, until the 8th year, after 
which period their descriptions are any thing but clear, in 
fact evidently guess work. 

By a thorough knowledge of anatomy and physiology, 
as well as for years, having attentively examined both 
living and dead horses, the author has convinced himself, 
that the age of a horse may be ascertained with the same 
accuracy after it has attained its 8th year, as before. 

Should this work prove a useful guide, to its readers 
the author will feel himself richly compensated. 



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